The Woman You Thought Would Stay

Chapter 2 — The First Lie

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

Adrian had promised to see me before work, and for some reason, I found myself smiling at the thought.

I checked my phone.

No message.

I waited another ten minutes.

Still nothing.

I told myself not to overthink it.

Adrian was busy. I knew that.

I got out of bed and started getting ready. While I was fixing my hair, my phone finally vibrated.

Adrian.

Good morning, beautiful. Something came up. I can't see you today. I'm sorry.

I stared at the message.

Something came up.

It was such a simple excuse, but somehow, it didn't feel right.

I typed a reply.

It's okay. I'll see you tonight.

Before I could send it, another message appeared.

Don't wait for me tonight either. I have a meeting.

I frowned.

A meeting?

On a Sunday?

I almost asked him about it, but stopped myself.

Maybe it really was work.

I sent a simple reply.

Okay. Take care.

A few seconds later, he reacted with a heart.

I smiled despite myself.

See? Nothing was wrong.

At least, that's what I wanted to believe.

Around noon, Mira called.

"Lia, are you free?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Can you meet me for coffee?"

Her voice sounded strange.

"Are you okay?"

She laughed softly.

"I'm fine. I just want to see you."

I agreed.

Thirty minutes later, we were sitting across from each other in our favorite café.

Mira kept stirring her coffee without drinking it.

I watched her carefully.

"You really are acting weird today."

She looked up.

"Weird?"

"Yeah. You've been quiet."

She smiled.

"I'm just tired."

I nodded.

Then her phone vibrated.

She immediately picked it up.

Her eyes widened for a second.

Then she turned the phone face down.

I noticed.

"Who was that?"

"No one."

The answer came too quickly.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

She smiled at me.

But it wasn't the same smile she usually gave me.

For the first time in six years, I felt like my best friend was hiding something.

I pushed the thought away.

"Mira."

"Hmm?"

"You know you can tell me anything, right?"

She looked at me for a long moment.

Then she reached across the table and held my hand.

"I know."

Her fingers tightened around mine.

"And I promise, Lia... I would never do anything to hurt you."

I smiled.

"Of course you wouldn't."

Neither of us knew how painful those words would become.

That evening, I was alone in my apartment when my phone rang.

It was Adrian.

"Hey."

"Hey, sweetheart."

His voice sounded normal.

Almost too normal.

"How was your meeting?"

There was a pause.

"Good."

"What did you discuss?"

Another pause.

"Business stuff."

I smiled faintly.

"Right."

He laughed.

"Why are you interrogating me?"

"I'm not."

"You sound like you are."

I laughed with him.

But something inside me remained uneasy.

Then I heard a sound in the background.

A woman's voice.

Soft.

Familiar.

My smile disappeared.

"Adrian?"

"Yeah?"

"Who's with you?"

Silence.

Just for a second.

Then he answered.

"My assistant."

I believed him.

Because I loved him.

And because I still hadn't learned that sometimes...

the first lie is only the beginning.